Nineteen groups of 196 high school and middle school students and 250 volunteers are participating in a variety of service projects around the community through the end of the week as part of the 11th annual Erasing the Lines camp.

Sammy Hudson, the head camp leader and director of ETL sponsor Son Set Ministries, said the goal of the week is to share the hope of Jesus with the community through acts of service.

“The name ‘erasing the lines’ is derived from the idea that we are not meant to be separated,” he said. “We’ve built up all these walls in our community and our goal is to erase those lines of division in our community, whether it be racial, economic or church dominations.”

Hudson said this year’s theme is “speak life.”

“We have a choice, we can either speak life or speak death,” he said. “I want to be a community that speaks life, that lifts up and encourages people. Also, most importantly, that life only comes through Jesus.”

Hudson said projects range from groups working with the Boys and Girls Club and helping put on vacation Bible schools, to cleaning up areas of the city.

Zach Respes, a small group leader, said his group helped out working in Kinston’s community garden on Tuesday.

“We helped with the compost area by taking out all of the weeds and sifting the soil so it’s pure compost and ready to be put in other areas of the garden,” he said.

Respes said the group also watered plants and did whatever else needed to be done in the garden.

For Respes this was his ninth year participating in the program.

“I see the impact it makes and how people’s lives are touched,” he said. “Not only the people we serve, but us as well. It’s all about spreading the message of Christ. We have people from 30 different churches participating. Some people don’t even belong to their own church, they just like the mission and what it’s all about.”

Brannigan Croom, 16, said this was her first year participating.

“I think it’s a really good organization because it makes everything about giving back to the community and not thinking about yourself,” she said.

Bailey Humphrey, 16, said she enjoyed being a part of the camp.

“You get to serve the community, but are also building your relationship with God,” she said.

William Buckley said the week is also about building a relationship with fellow Christians.

“I’m from Greene County and have never met any of these people before,” he said. “It feels like another family by coming together with people who have a common goal.”